A former chairperson of the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service, Onene Obari Obele-Oshoko, has attributed the poor level of development in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State to the failure of the political leaders of the area, who she said had not used their tenures and contacts to develop or attract development to the area.
Obele-Oshoko, who recently visited her hometown, Agbonchia in Eleme Local Government Area, said on her verified Facebook timeline, that the roads leading into the local government area were an eyesore.
Reeling out names of indigenes of the area that have held public office, Obele-Oshoko said it was no use for people to hold public office or have influential contacts in government, if they fail to draw attention to the poor state of infrastructure in their hometowns.
She said, “I came to my home church, Christ Anglican Church, Agbonchia, Eleme for worship today. The roads leading into Eleme as we all know, remain an eyesore.
“I recall Senator Olaka Nwogu, Ambassador Oji Ngofa, Hon Commissioner Isaac Kamalu, Hon Marcus Nle, Hon Aforji Igwe (Member House of Assembly), to name a few very active political big wigs of Eleme extraction.
“So I asked myself, of what use to society is your political power and ambition if it would not be applied for the good of your land?
“None of the names listed are new to political power and the deplorable state Eleme is in didn’t just happen…so what exactly is it that we celebrate and hope for concerning these persons? Why have they failed to use their clout to bring development to their land?”
She described the East-West road, the main road that runs through Eleme Local Government Area, as a death trap, and wondered why it has been allowed to remain deplorable despite being the road that leads to Indorama, Eleme Refinery, Notore, Onne Oil and Gas FreeZone, Onne Seaport and others.
Lamenting the high impoverishment in the area, Obele-Oshoko queried: “How could we have these persons with such power and connection as well as the praise and respect the youths accord them allow such neglect to befall their land for in the neglect of the land of course the people are also neglected?
“Having considered all, I make bold to declare that as of today our Eleme political class have failed us. I also know it’s not too late for them to have a rethink and do the right things.
“The people may not always speak out but the land sure will and if they revolt against you, who would speak up for you?” she queried.
